Buemi still hopes clash between WEC and Formula E can be avoided

Buemi, who drives for Toyota in WEC and Renault e.dams in Formula E, is the most high-profile name of those affected if both the Nurburgring and New York events take place on July 16 next year, as planned.

There had been suggestions that the former might be pushed back a week, as the rationale for scheduling it on 16 July was because of expectations that the F1 German Grand Prix may be held the following weekend at Hockenheim.

With the German GP having been removed from the F1 calendar, it theoretically leaves the 23 July weekend clear for WEC, if the Nurburgring can be persuaded to change its scheduling.

Speaking at the FIA Gala Awards in Vienna, Buemi says he is still hopeful the clash can be averted.

“We just had two races [in Formula E], it was great to start with two wins,” Buemi. “There might be a clash for me with WEC and Formula E, so… it’s going to be WEC [that I race in], so far.

“But we hope the FIA will able to find a solution and avoid the clash.”

Having stated his Toyota WEC contract takes priority, Buemi suggested that there may be scope for negotiation with the Japanese marque if his Formula E title defence was in danger.

There is a precedent for LMP1 teams to run two drivers per car, such as when Buemi and Anthony Davidson contested the latter half of the 2014 WEC season as a twosome after Nicolas Lapierre was dropped by Toyota.

“It will be important to discuss it with Toyota, or have enough points in the [Formula E] championship [to be able to skip New York],” concluded Buemi.

Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble